Jeff Carlisle, a LightSquared executive, accused the GPS industry of pushing negative political stories about the company.

Republicans and Democrats on the House Education and the Workforce Committee clashed Wednesday over legislation that would undo recent regulations and rulings from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). 

Introduced last week, the bill sponsored by Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), the committee’s chairman, counteracts a proposed regulation from the labor board that would speed up union elections as well as void an NLRB ruling that would allow smaller bargaining units to form unions. 

At a hearing Wednesday on the bill, Kline said policies being advanced by the labor board create uncertainty for employers struggling in a stalled economy.

“The policies advanced by the NLRB are dramatically increasing the pressure and uncertainty facing business owners, making it more difficult to create jobs and plan for the future,” Kline said.

Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) argued against the bank, claiming there are no funds and no shovel-ready projects to benefit.

The Nigerian student who attempted to blow up a plane over Detroit faces between 30 years and life in prison.

Rep. Elijah Cummings (Md.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, on Wednesday said that committee Republicans’ criticism of Obama administration fuel economy standards is a little mystifying.

Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is attacking what he calls secretive negotiations between the White House, automakers and other parties that produced an agreement on standards for model years 2017-2025 (more on Issa’s concerns here and here).

But Cummings used a Wednesday subcommittee hearing on the upcoming car and light-truck rules to criticize the GOP probe. “Frankly, I have a hard time understanding what the majority’s problem is with the fuel efficiency standards or whose interest they are representing in opposing them,” Cummings said.
 
“I also understand that the majority is concerned that the administration has been inappropriately colluding with stakeholders. This is also a strange claim, considering the frequent complaints from the other side about the administration seeking too little input from industry when developing regulations,” he added.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Chicago's O'Hare International Airport has been named the most dangerous airport in the U.S.

Another Florida airport has been cleared for flights to Cuba.

Voters in Maryland are opposed to raising the state's gas tax.

Dollar Rent-A-Car has halted its sale process.

A proposal for a national infrastructure bank that was included by President Obama in his proposed jobs act will get a hearing before a House committee Wednesday, though the panel's leaders have already signaled skepticism.

The proposal calls for the federal government to invest $10 billion into a fund specifically established to fund transportation projects. Advocates say the money could be used to lure investment in public-private partnerships that are increasingly popular in the transportation sector.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will meet to consider the proposal Wednesday morning, but its Republican leaders say they would prefer to encourage states to launch their own infrastructure banks.

“This hearing will focus on questions relating to the estimated $270 million, year-long process of creating another federally backed agency designed to pick project winners and losers,” Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-Fla.) has said in a statement about the hearing.

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A House Oversight and Government Reform Committee panel will hear from Obama administration officials about vehicle mileage and emissions standards that have come under attack from Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).
 
President Obama unveiled an agreement in July for joint EPA-Transportation Department vehicle mileage and carbon emissions standards for model years 2017-2025 that ultimately reach 54.5 miles-per-gallon.
 
But Issa has slammed what he calls secret negotiations that resulted in the deal between the White House and major automakers, and fears increased consumer costs and lost jobs.

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The Transportation Security Administration is postponing a deadline for scanning all cargo aboard airplanes that had been scheduled for December.

The deadline was opposed by the International Air Cargo Association, which said in a statement it commended TSA for the decision.

"We fully recognize its intention to enhance existing air cargo security programs but it is showing the foresight to listen to, and work with, the industry towards this objective," IACA Chairman Michael Steen said in a statement. "This is the result of TSA requesting comment from the air cargo industry on the feasibility of a December 31st 2011 deadline and its careful consideration of the advice it received."

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